Monday 11 / May / 2026
Technology is a double-edged sword, yet its benefits often outweigh its costs. The Automobile proves this paradox.
German engineer Karl Benz created the World’s first practical car in 1885 in Manheim. He patented his gasoline-powered vehicle on 29th January 1886. Earlier, in 1769 French military engineer Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot built a steam-powered tricycle to haul artillery, but it was not a car in the modern sense.
The invention reshaped civilization. Express highways were constructed for motor vehicles, ending centuries of isolation. Before cars, people rarely left their villages except from necessity, traveling by camel, horse, or donkey. Communities were disconnected and horizons were narrow. The car connected us. Cities expanded, trade flourished, and families reunited.
To reduce the risks of individual vehicles, cities developed safer public transport. The electric tram appeared in the late 19th century as a solution for street mobility. Unlike cars, trams carry dozens of passengers along fixed routes, reducing congestion and the likelihood of collisions. But their long carriers and lack of individual use led people to prefer the freedom of private cars, despite the dangers.
And the cost has been heavy. According to the World Health Organization, 1.19 million people die on the world’s roads every year – more than 3,000 lives lost every single day. Road crashes are the leading cause of death for children and young people aged 5 to 29. Pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists make up more than half of all fatalities.
Can society abandon the car? Certainly not. Modern life depends on it. The solution is not rejection, but responsibility. This is where the World Health Organization and the United Nations intervene through UN Road Safety Day. The goal: safer roads, better vehicles, and disciplined behaviour. We commit to safety regulations, reduce speed, and reject reckless driving. We celebrate the freedom vehicles gave us by protecting the lives they should not take.
* (The author is a retired army corporal who has authored “Have you read Torah and Gospel”, “Pre-1970 Oman”, “Knowledge of Islam made easy”.)
